Intel Core 7 251TE vs Intel Core i5-14600 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-14600 is the stronger processor across nearly every measured workload. It wins 16 of the 17 head-to-head tests, with its only loss coming in PassMark integer math, where the Core 7 251TE leads by 7.4%. The i5-14600 also holds a higher average benchmark score of 44889 compared to 41650 for the Core 7 251TE, and it sits at the 89th percentile of all CPUs versus the 88th percentile for its rival. The Core 7 251TE, despite having more cores and threads, consistently trails by roughly 16% in Cinebench workloads and by double digits in most PassMark tests.

The i5-14600 is the pick for anyone prioritizing raw performance in rendering, compression, encryption, and general multithreaded tasks. The Core 7 251TE counters with a 45 W TDP versus 65 W, making it the more power-conscious option, and it delivers a decisive win in integer math. However, the data shows the i5-14600 is faster in floating-point math, physics simulation, random string sorting, and even single-threaded performance. For workloads that lean heavily on integer arithmetic, the Core 7 251TE has a specific advantage, but the overall pattern is clear: the i5-14600 dominates the benchmark chart.

Both processors share the same socket, memory support, integrated graphics, and PCIe configuration, so platform-level differences are minimal. The deciding factor is application workload. The Core 7 251TE is a 24-core, 32-thread part with a 36 MB shared L3 cache, while the i5-14600 is a 14-core, 20-thread chip with 24 MB of L3. Despite the Core 7 251TE's larger core count, the i5-14600 posts higher scores in every Cinebench generation tested, including multicore tests. The i5-14600 also has a higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz against 5.40 GHz for the Core 7 251TE, yet it still wins single-threaded tests by about 16%. The data suggests the i5-14600's architecture delivers better per-thread efficiency and higher sustained throughput in the tested scenarios.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600 has an average benchmark score of 44889, while the Intel Core 7 251TE scores 41650. The i5-14600 also ranks at the 89th percentile of all CPUs, one point above the Core 7 251TE's 88th percentile.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core i5-14600 has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Does the Core 7 251TE win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, it wins PassMark integer math with a score of 125739, which is 7.4% higher than the i5-14600's 117078. This is its only win across the 17 head-to-head tests.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for these two processors?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has a TDP of 45 W. The Intel Core i5-14600 has a TDP of 65 W.

Q: What is the difference in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600 scores 30464, which is 16.2% higher than the Core 7 251TE's 25518.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 7 251TE and the Intel Core i5-14600 support ECC memory. Both also support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design lineages. The Core 7 251TE is built on Bartlett Lake and belongs to the Core 7 generation, while the i5-14600 is a Raptor Lake Refresh part in the Core 14th Gen series. Both are fabricated on a 10 nm process by Intel, but the die sizes differ: the Core 7 251TE measures 215 mm², and the i5-14600 measures 257 mm².

Core configuration is the most striking architectural gap. The Core 7 251TE packs 24 cores and 32 threads, a significantly higher count than the i5-14600's 14 cores and 20 threads. Cache hierarchies also differ. Both allocate 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but the Core 7 251TE offers 1.25 MB of L2 per core against 2 MB per core on the i5-14600. The shared L3 cache favors the Core 7 251TE at 36 MB, compared to 24 MB on the i5-14600.

The memory controllers are similar on paper. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. The Core 7 251TE lists a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the i5-14600 does not have a recorded memory bandwidth figure in the database. Both processors support ECC memory, which positions them for workstation or reliability-focused builds.

Integrated graphics are identical: both use Intel UHD Graphics 770. PCIe support is also the same, with Gen 5 and 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a feature of either part.

The production status for both is Active. The Core 7 251TE launched on 2025-01-12, roughly a year after the i5-14600, which launched on 2024-01-07. The Core 7 251TE has a launch MSRP of $384, while the i5-14600 has a launch MSRP of $255. The architectural differences suggest the Core 7 251TE was designed to offer more cores within a lower power envelope, while the i5-14600 relies on higher clock rates and a more mature refresh of the Raptor Lake design.

Specification Differences

The specification table shows clear contrasts. The Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads; the i5-14600 has 14 cores and 20 threads. Base clocks differ substantially: 1.40 GHz for the Core 7 251TE versus 2.70 GHz for the i5-14600. Boost clocks are closer, with the Core 7 251TE reaching 5.40 GHz and the i5-14600 reaching 5.20 GHz.

TDP is a major differentiator. The Core 7 251TE is rated at 45 W, while the i5-14600 is rated at 65 W. The die size also differs, with the Core 7 251TE at 215 mm² and the i5-14600 at 257 mm². L2 cache per core is 1.25 MB on the Core 7 251TE and 2 MB on the i5-14600. L3 cache is 36 MB shared on the Core 7 251TE and 24 MB shared on the i5-14600.

Memory bandwidth is recorded for the Core 7 251TE at 89.6 GB/s, but no figure is listed for the i5-14600. Both support dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5, and both support ECC. The integrated GPU is the same on both parts. Socket, PCIe lanes, and market segment are identical. The release dates differ by about a year, and the launch MSRP for the Core 7 251TE is $384, while the i5-14600 is $255.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are heavily lopsided. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-14600 scores 3070 against 2572 for the Core 7 251TE, a 16.2% advantage. The single-core variant shows a similar gap: 433 versus 362, a 16.4% lead. Cinebench R20 multicore repeats the pattern with 12794 versus 10717, again 16.2%. The R20 single-core test has the i5-14600 at 1806 and the Core 7 251TE at 1512, a 16.3% difference. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 30464 versus 25518, and R23 single-core shows 4300 versus 3602, both at 16.2%.

PassMark tests follow the same trend, with a few exceptions. Data compression heavily favors the i5-14600: 434620 versus 334399, a 23.1% gap. Data encryption is closer but still favors the i5-14600 at 25082 versus 22176, an 11.6% difference. Extended instructions show the largest margin: 25674 versus 16974, a 33.9% lead for the i5-14600. Find prime numbers is a narrow win for the i5-14600 at 155 versus 140, a 9.7% gap.

Floating-point math is nearly a tie. The i5-14600 scores 85759, and the Core 7 251TE scores 85607, a 0.2% difference. Integer math is the one test the Core 7 251TE wins, posting 125739 against 117078, a 7.4% margin. Multithread performance favors the i5-14600 at 35848 versus 30022, a 16.3% gap. Physics simulation shows the i5-14600 at 2330 and the Core 7 251TE at 1938, a 16.8% difference. Random string sorting favors the i5-14600 at 48043 versus 39643, a 17.5% gap. Single-thread performance in PassMark is 4167 for the i5-14600 and 3568 for the Core 7 251TE, a 14.4% lead.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14600 wins in rendering workloads, as shown by its consistent 16.2% advantage across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests. It also leads in single-threaded performance across both Cinebench and PassMark, making it the stronger choice for lightly threaded applications. Data compression, encryption, extended instruction workloads, physics simulation, and random string sorting all favor the i5-14600 by margins ranging from 9.7% to 33.9%. Its floating-point math score is marginally higher, and its multithread PassMark score is 16.3% above the Core 7 251TE.

The Intel Core 7 251TE wins in integer math, with a 7.4% advantage over the i5-14600. This indicates a specific strength in workloads that rely on integer arithmetic, such as certain database operations, encoding tasks, or general computation loops. The Core 7 251TE also offers a lower TDP of 45 W, which may appeal to builds with tighter thermal or power budgets. Its larger L3 cache of 36 MB and higher core count of 24 do not translate to benchmark wins in the recorded tests, but they remain specification advantages that could matter in workloads not represented here.

The overall benchmark record gives the i5-14600 16 wins and the Core 7 251TE 1 win. The average benchmark scores reinforce this, with the i5-14600 at 44889 and the Core 7 251TE at 41650. The nearest rivals for each processor show they sit in similar company. The Core 7 251TE is within 0.6% of the Intel Core i7-14700T and within 0.3% of the Intel Core i7-12850HX. The i5-14600 is within 0.5% of the Intel Core i9-12900KS and within 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D. The data places the i5-14600 in a slightly higher performance tier, while the Core 7 251TE competes with lower-power and mobile-class parts.